Monk, who has played for Swansea in all four divisions, defended Torres and believes the pressure of the £50million fee Chelsea paid to bring him to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool has placed extra pressure on him.

Monk said: "It was good to play against him. I came here on a free when we were in League Two and he's cost £50million!

"That's what you're dealing with - living in different worlds. It's great to pit your wits against the best. And he cost £50million for a reason and I just enjoyed it. I didn't give him a yard and just kept with him.

"He clearly has quality, but, yes, there are hundreds of players overpriced. Yet that is not his fault that Chelsea paid that sort of money for him.

"Obviously with the price-tag comes a lot of responsibility. He will feel that on his shoulders to perform every week. Once you don't perform, everyone is on your back. You could see that with Suarez at Liverpool, he's a good player.

"Even though he is Marmite to a lot of people, but out of everyone he is the best."